New Hartford police charge 19 in high school pranks that caused $23K in damage

New Hartford, NY -- Authorities charged 19 students and former students with multiple felonies after a senior prank at the Sauquoit Valley High School caused more than $20,000 in damage.

New Hartford police began investigating the incident on June 3 when school officials reported several people had entered the school unlawfully and caused extensive damage.

A two-week investigation revealed that about 50 students from the Sauquoit Valley High Schools senior class, along with several graduates, met at a park in the town of Paris the night of June 2 for a party and to carry out a senior prank at the high school.

After meeting at the park, about 30 people walked to the high school to carry out the prank. Several students were dressed in dark clothing and most wore a mask or other covering over their faces to hide their identities, police said. They also carried spray paint, super glue, caulk and large amounts of red duct tape.

Some students stood outside the building and watched, while others duct taped the school's bus garage and blocked the main entrance with hay bales.

Police said other students entered the school through a door that had been disabled earlier in the day and placed duct tape across stairwells, walls and display cases. They also spray painted at least 19 lockers and 11 skylights.

Students damaged 18 door locks, 10 light switches and one water fountain by filling them with super glue, police said, and two exterior surveillance cameras were shot out with a paintball gun.

The total cost of the damage amounted to $23,813.73.

Police said four more people entered the high school later and stole at least three LCD computer projectors -- worth about $1,500 -- from the technology department.

Police identified and charged 15 students and four former students. All were processed and arraigned in New Hartford Town Court and either released or remanded pending bail. 15 students and former students were each charged with third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief and criminal tampering. Police said two other students were charged with criminal tampering. The four people involved in the second burglary were each charged with third-degree burglary and fourth-degree grand larceny.

Police did not immediately release the names and mugshots of the 19 people charged.